"To take one little example: if we started today to build another external tank at MAF, there are probably enough parts on the shelf. But very shortly we would exhaust supplies of some parts. Maybe on the second tank -- which we need to start in 3 months or so -- would have to get a new supply of specialty parts. Sometimes the old vendor is still there and could be persuaded to make more of the old parts. But in many cases, a new vendor would have to be found. Since the production run would be small, a premium price would have to be paid; and a certification effort requiring 6 to 12 months would start. Initial production likely would have a number of rejects as the workers learn the process. Hmm. In probably 15 to 18 months would would have the parts to build that second tank -- only a year or so later than we needed them. So a new gap would form. Not between shuttle and orion but between shuttle and shuttle.
And what would we get: even higher price per flight of an old technology which is not nearly as safe as we would like . . .
Hey, I am the biggest shuttle hugger there is. I think it is the best spacecraft ever built. But I also deal in the real world.
Where does the money come from? Where do the people -- who should be working on the moon rocket -- where do they come from?
We started shutting down the shuttle four years ago. That horse has left the barn" Quoted by www.nasa.gov
And what would we get: even higher price per flight of an old technology which is not nearly as safe as we would like . . .
Hey, I am the biggest shuttle hugger there is. I think it is the best spacecraft ever built. But I also deal in the real world.
Where does the money come from? Where do the people -- who should be working on the moon rocket -- where do they come from?
We started shutting down the shuttle four years ago. That horse has left the barn" Quoted by www.nasa.gov